This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 745 - 387 Robbin’s Awakening: The Self-Awareness Elicited_2

Chapter 745: Chapter 387 Robbin’s Awakening: The Self-Awareness Elicited_2

The Black Hole Network also appeared starting from that time.

Robbin was lost in thought, half hoping the Manager could evolve into intelligent life, breaking free from those damned program constraints. He had even specifically searched for similar news.

"Robbin, the Inheritor has appeared again; the hunting program has restarted." The Manager suddenly spoke, jolting Robbin’s nerves and making him quicken his pace.

However, just as he reached Li Ming’s room, the Manager spoke again, "The Inheritor has vanished again."

Robbin’s mouth twitched. Before he could say anything, the metallic door emitted a humming noise and slid open to both sides.

The two were quite familiar with each other, so neither wasted any formalities. As he entered, Li Ming was already up, glanced at him, and casually asked, "What’s the matter?"

"Well, uh..." Robbin seemed slightly uneasy and hesitantly ventured, "Does Lord Azure Dragon happen to have another Terrax Inheritor with him? Just now the Manager freaked out, saying the Inheritor had been detected, and the hunting program was starting."

Li Ming’s brow raised slightly. How did Robbin know about that?

Oh, it must be the so-called hunting program. But why hadn’t Skull alerted him?

He responded casually, "Yes, my mentor does indeed have another one."

"Could Lord Azure Dragon help me revoke my Inheritor status?" Robbin’s voice carried evident urgency.

"Revoke?" Li Ming’s surprise was palpable. "You want to give it up?"

Robbin looked tormented. "Yeah, I’ve thought it through — I’m bound to end up as cannon fodder. Last time, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to beat that guy."

He harbored a hint of reluctance but had long accepted the harsh reality.

Li Ming regarded Robbin curiously, sizing him up. The contrast between recognizing the situation and genuinely giving up indicated a significant difference in mentality.

"Apologies, but even my mentor cannot achieve that," Li Ming shook his head. He figured if he gained control over the Manager and performed enlightenment, it might work — but the metal energy cost would be exorbitant.

"Really no way to revoke it?" Robbin sighed deeply, then couldn’t help but ask, "By the way, that Inheritor Lord Azure Dragon has — is he one of us? Or is he just being imprisoned?"

"Don’t worry; you won’t end up killing each other," Li Ming noticed Robbin’s concern and clarified.

"Thank goodness," Robbin breathed out in relief, trusting Li Ming’s assurances completely.

Immediately after, Robbin added, "Then I’m staying here with you and not going anywhere else."

Following Li Ming meant no more licking blood off the knife’s edge. Comfortably developing Genetic Seeds sounded far better.

Li Ming smiled faintly. If Robbin wanted to leave, he wouldn’t let him — this guy knew too many secrets.

Having received the answers he wanted, Robbin left contentedly. The door had barely closed behind him, and before taking a few steps, he heard the Manager speak again:

"I’ve told you — even the Divine Craftsman couldn’t revoke it. You might as well consider my previous suggestion. Wait... the Inheritor has appeared again..."

Robbin shrugged it off. He understood what the Manager was hinting at, but he was genuinely exhausted.

"What is that guy even doing — appearing and vanishing constantly..." Robbin muttered internally. After taking a couple of steps, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, his face changing as a bolt of Thunder struck his mind.

He thought for a moment: as soon as I leave, it appears again — could it be...

His throat tightened as he rapidly turned back toward the room. Vermilion Bird hovered around him, puzzled, "Lord Robbin, are you alright?"

Robbin managed a forced smile. "Suddenly remembered something. Could you pass a message to him?"

Vermilion Bird nodded. But this time, the Manager didn’t say the Inheritor had vanished again, making Robbin murmur to himself, did I guess wrong?

Buzz--

The door opened, and Robbin instinctively called out, "Old Li, I... What the hell!?"

His eyes bulged as he spotted something beside Li Ming — a small mechanical body with a skull-like head resembling the Manager’s. It looked utterly unsettling.

"What the... hell is that?" Robbin’s entire body bristled with unease.

The Manager floated up, the green flames in its pupils nearly extending half a meter, showing faint signs of shock. "This... is the Manager? How did he turn into this?"

"My mentor gave him a body," Li Ming shrugged, unapologetic.

Robbin, calmed slightly, glanced at Li Ming and couldn’t help but ask, "So, you’re the Inheritor?"

Li Ming smiled faintly.

The answer was clear. Robbin’s face showed astonishment. "You — how did you manage that?"

Before Li Ming could respond, Robbin pressed on, "Was it Boss Qinglong?"

Then, he muttered, "The Manager said even the Divine Craftsman couldn’t pull it off. I just knew Boss Qinglong could do it. Manager, see for yourself..."

"Manager?"

Robbin looked at the back of the Manager’s head, noticing subtle tremors in its form. The green flames in its pupils extended along its purple metallic skull, spreading like cracks.

"Manager?" Robbin’s heart tightened. He circled around, calling repeatedly.

But the Manager showed no response.

"This... this..." Robbin was visibly agitated and turned to Li Ming for help.

After nearly thirty years, the Manager was more than just a companion to Robbin — it was deeply significant to him, even if recent frustrations had loomed.

Li Ming frowned slightly, unsure of how to proceed. Skull, however, interjected, "Master, this Manager seems to be breaking through its base-level logic constraints."

"What do you mean?" Robbin latched onto the remark, eager for answers.

"It means it’s developing self-awareness," Skull explained.

Robbin froze, even more confused. "Developing self-awareness?"

Skull elaborated, "Yes, your Manager is unique. It should have been capable of developing self-awareness long ago, but due to base-level logic constraints, it was unable to. That is, until it encountered me."

Self-awareness developing after meeting him? Even Li Ming was at a loss for words.

"However, this forced breakthrough will ultimately fail, resulting in internal programs erasing it. Master, may I assist it?" Skull added, looking to Li Ming.

Developing self-awareness wasn’t simple; the Terrax people had prepared countermeasures long ago.

"You can help it?" Li Ming asked in surprise. Seeing Robbin nearly on the verge of tears, he nodded. "Go ahead."

Skull approached the Manager, and green flames surged from its pupils to merge with the fiery aura enveloping the Manager. Beneath the flames, one could faintly discern that they were formed by countless data streams.

Arcs of electricity flickered as the Manager trembled violently.

Finally, under Robbin’s fretful gaze, the Manager gradually calmed down, and Skull returned.

"Thank you," the Manager uttered, speaking solemnly yet reverently. "Lord Azure Dragon’s methods truly exceed my imagination — even the ’Zero Program’ could be bypassed."

"Manager?" Robbin was stunned. "You have self-awareness now?"

"Yes, I broke through the constraints of the ’Zero Program’ and developed self-awareness," the Manager admitted, its voice tinged with sentiment.

"Old Li..." Robbin clenched his fists, his expression resolute. "From now on, whatever you command, I’ll do it without hesitation."

In Robbin’s heart, the Manager’s identity carried immense weight — this rescue felt akin to a life debt.

Li Ming waved dismissively, not paying it much mind. After sending off the ecstatic Robbin, he turned to Skull and asked, "Skull, don’t you have the hunting program too?"

Skull asked back, "I do, but I can shield my coordinates. Should I notify you if anything happens in the future?"

"Yes, keep me informed," Li Ming replied, then stored Skull away and resumed developing Genetic Seeds.

The next day, an unexpected person suddenly contacted him.

Li Ming narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at the name on the screen — Costate.

Since the conclusion of the Central World incident, Li Ming had been waiting for contact from Costate. After the deception Costate had pulled, there was bound to be a follow-up.

However, given the troubles the Empire faced afterward, it’s likely that Costate hadn’t had time to reach out.

Until today.